Apparatus and method for viewing radiographs

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, a telesuite is provided and includes a camera rotatable about at least one axis, the camera being rotatably mounted to a base and a radiograph viewing device comprising a computer monitor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/345,900 filed on Feb. 2, 2006, and entitled “Apparatus and method forviewing radiographs,” which claims the benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Application 60/649,521 filed on Feb. 3, 2005 and entitled“Apparatus And Method For Viewing Radiographs,” both of which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure generally relates to medical diagnostic apparatuses,systems and methods. This disclosure particularly relates toapparatuses, systems and methods for local and remote viewing ofradiographs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Transparency illuminators, view boxes, light boxes, and the likes areused to permit viewing of negative images. Medical applications utilizesuch light boxes to permit radiologists and other qualified health carepractitioners to view radiographic images (e.g., radiographs) and otherfilm-based or transparency-based medical diagnostic images (e.g., CT orMRI images). These light boxes contain one or more light sources and aflat front panel comprising a light diffuser, such as a translucentwhite Plexiglass, and are dimensioned to handle a predetermined numberof conventionally sized radiographs (e.g., about 14″ by 17″) to permitsimultaneous viewing of one or more radiographs.

Proper radiograph interpretation, and the identification of anyunderlying ailment, disease, or malady, requires sufficient lighting,contrast, and resolution. If any one of the lighting, contrast, andresolution is less than optimal, radiographic interpretation iscomplicated and the ability of the radiologist to properly diagnose anunderlying ailment, disease, or malady is reduced. Further, the addedinterpretive difficulty lengthens the amount of time devoted toradiographic analysis and increases, over time, the viewers fatigue, eyestrain, and muscle stiffness.

Recent improvements to the conventional light boxes include, forexample, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,940,998 and 5,992,066 to Brauer. Althoughthese and other conventional transparency illuminators or “light boxes”used in medical applications for reviewing radiographs (e.g., x-rays) ornegative images may be effective for the local applications for whichthey were designed, a need exists for a light box or radiographicviewing device optimized for remote applications, such as telemedicine.

SUMMARY

Telemedicine relates to the use of telephony and/or other communicationlinks (e.g., satellite) in combination with a camera (e.g., a stillcamera or a video camera) and/or a connected medical device orinstrument (e.g., an electrocardiograph (ECG)) to convey sound, image,and data from a patient, health care provider, assistant, or object ofinterest in a first location (e.g., an “originating site”) to a doctoror other health care provider in a second, distal, location (e.g., a“remote site”) to enable the doctor or health care provider to evaluate,advise, treat and/or diagnose the patient and/or analyze or gleaninformation from the object of interest. The present disclosure relatesto medical diagnostic apparatuses, systems and methods adapted toefficiently utilize remote visual communication technology, such as thatconventionally used in telemedicine or video-conferencing sessions.

In one aspect, a telesuite is provided and includes a camera rotatableabout at least one axis, the camera being rotatably mounted to a base,and a radiograph viewing device. The radiograph viewing device includesa light source and a translucent substrate defining at least oneradiograph viewing area. According to some embodiments, each radiographviewing area of the translucent substrate is disposed substantiallyequidistant from the camera.

According to some embodiments, a radiographic viewing device comprises alight box including a light source and a curved translucent substrate.The curved translucent substrate defines at least one radiograph viewingarea along a common radius and at least substantially approximates aspherical segment, a spherical curve, and/or a spherical cap.

According to other embodiments, there is provided a radiographic viewingsystem comprising a camera rotatable about at least one axis and beingrotatably mounted to a base and a light box including a light source anda curved translucent substrate. The curved translucent substrate definesat least one radiograph viewing area along a common radius and at leastsubstantially conforms to a spherical segment, a spherical curve, and/ora spherical cap.

In at least some other embodiments, a radiographic viewing system inaccord with the present concepts includes a light source, at least onetranslucent substrate defining a plurality of radiograph viewing areasand disposed to pass light from the light source, and a camera movablewith respect to said at least one translucent substrate, the camerabeing positionable to receive light emitted from the translucentsubstrate.

According to some embodiments, a radiographic viewing device includes alight box having a UV light source disposed therein. The light box alsoincludes a translucent substrate having a photo-fluorescent materialapplied thereto, the translucent substrate defining at least oneradiograph viewing area. In this configuration, UV radiation from the UVsource is incident upon the translucent substrate fluorescent materialand causes the fluorescent material to emit visible light. Thetranslucent substrate may optionally be curved.

The above summary is not intended to represent each embodiment, or everyaspect, of the presently disclosed concepts. Additional features andbenefits of the presently disclosed concepts will become apparent fromthe detailed description, figures, and claims set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of a telesuite incorporating a radiographicviewing device in accord with the present concepts.

FIG. 2. shows an example of a camera and communications system which maybe used in the telesuite of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of a first example of a radiographviewing device in accord with aspects of the present concepts.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the first example of a radiograph viewingdevice in accord with aspects of the present concepts.

FIGS. 5( a)-5(d) respectively show an isometric view, a front view, aside view, and a top or plan view of a second example of a radiographviewing device in accord with aspects of the present concepts.

FIGS. 6( a)-6(b) respectively show an isometric view and a top or planview of a third example of a radiograph viewing device in accord withaspects of the present concepts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is exemplary of the disclosed concepts andadvantageous aspects thereof, but is in no way intended to limit thescope of the disclosed concepts, its application, or uses.

FIG. 1 shows one example of an exemplary telesuite 10. In theillustrated example, the telesuite comprises a camera 20 and a number ofpredetermined viewing positions or areas, which may include a patientviewing area 30, a health care provider or practitioner viewing area 40,a radiograph viewing device area 50 bearing a radiograph viewing device200, a physical exhibit viewing device area 60, a desk top area 70, acomputer monitor 80, and/or a medical display device viewing area 90.

The predetermined viewing position is defined, for example, by a set ofpredetermined coordinates in an appropriate coordinate system (e.g.,Cartesian (x, y, z) or polar (r, θ)) relative to a selected origin ofthe camera 20. The camera 20 controller may include any combination ofmotors, mechanisms, actuators, hardware, firmware, software,processor(s), and devices to permit movement and/or rotation of thecamera to view any desired coordinate and focus thereupon, if necessary.The camera controller is adapted to rotate and/or move the camera 20 toview a designated radiograph viewing area 50 and/or radiograph viewingdevice 200 disposed therein upon receipt of a control signal instructingthe camera to view the designated radiograph viewing area and/orradiograph viewing device, or portion thereof.

Once positioned, the camera will include within its field of view adesignated area (i.e., a predetermined viewing area) surrounding thepredetermined viewing position. The predetermined viewing position maybe set, for example, by manually positioning the camera 20 to focus on adesired spot so encompassing a desired field of view and by saving theposition(s) of the associated camera driving elements such as, but notlimited to, using stepper motor position or motor encoders. The cameracontroller may thus be trained to automatically return to any one of aplurality of predetermined viewing positions upon receipt of anappropriate control signal from a user. The predetermined viewingpositions may be saved remotely or locally, such as in a cameracontroller (not shown) memory, in a local computer 110 memory, or in aremote computer.

In one aspect, camera 20 could be disposed outside of and adjacent totelesuite 20, viewing an interior thereof through a transparentsubstrate such as a glass or plexiglass partition or window or throughan opening. Multiple cameras 20 may also be provided in a singletelesuite 10. In accord with the present concepts, a doctor or healthcare provider may be able to simultaneously or sequentially monitor oneor more predetermined viewing positions in one or more telesuitesdisposed at any fixed or mobile site.

In accord with the present concepts, camera 20 is rotatable about atleast one axis (e.g., a horizontal axis or a vertical axis) and may beadvantageously mounted to a fixed structure such as, but not limited to,a wall, a ceiling, or other appurtenant structure attached thereto. Thedegree or range of rotation about this axis of rotation should beselected to traverse an arc (e.g., 0° to 360°) encompassing desiredpositions of interest within the originating site. Camera 20 ispreferably rotatable about at two axes (e.g., a horizontal axis and avertical axis or two perpendicular horizontal axes). Still morepreferably, camera 20 is also provided with an optical and/or digitalzoom capability (e.g., a 3× digital zoom) and may comprise astereovision capability to permit visual perception in three dimensions.

In one aspect, camera 20 may comprise a model FW-1150 (FlexWATCH™)manufactured by Seyeon Technology, Ltd., of Seoul, Korea. Thisparticular aspect of camera 20 is a stand-alone network camera serverwith built-in Pan/Tilt/Zoom camera and web server which deliversreal-time live video at a rate up to about 30 fps over existingtelephony systems and networks including, for example, telephone lines,LANs, Cable modems, and xDSL. The FW-1150 camera (e.g., 20) comprises a1/3″ Sony Super HAD CCD® with a 3.8 mm lens with a 3× digital zoomproviding resolutions up to about 704×480 (NTSC) or 704×576 (PAL).FW-1150 camera (e.g., 20) is advantageously coupled to a FlexWATCH™network video server and used in combination with FlexWATCH™ VoyagerSoftware to enable operation of the camera viewing of multiple angles ofa target location (e.g., “originating site”) through a standard webbrowser using any conventional operating system.

Camera 20, as well as its associated software and control systems, maythus conveniently employ “off-the-shelf” components and systems selectedfor a particular applications and design constraints (e.g., cost, speed,resolution, etc.). In the present example, a physician in a remotelocation may use the camera to view, with very high resolution andfidelity, fine details of a radiograph mounted on a radiograph viewingdevice 200 in the radiograph viewing device area 50 from across thetelesuite 10.

It is advantageous to enable operation of the camera 20 only after apotential user has suitably verified authorization to access the camerasuch as, but not limited to, conventional security devices includingpassword protected server access, IP filtering, and image encryption.

Camera 20 may optionally be translatable as well as rotatable. Forexample, camera 20 may be mounted on a telescoping or otherwisevertically translating member, such as a drive member attached to atrack, able to position a first camera at a range of heights (e.g.,between about 1′ off of the ground to about 10′ off of the ground) toprovide additional perspectives for each of the aforementionedpredetermined viewing areas. As one example, the telescoping orotherwise vertically translating member may comprise a Televatorelevating pedestal (EP-PT-S2), elevating wall mount (EWM-PT-S2), orextendable camera mount (ECM-PT-S2), each manufactured by Telemetrics,Inc. Similarly, camera 20 may be disposed to translate or move along atrack that is straight or curved along any desired path necessary toposition the camera with respect to the radiograph viewing device 200.Thus, camera 20 may travel horizontally, vertically, or along an arc orcurve and may itself be translatable about one or more axes relative tosuch track via conventional actuators to provide additional degrees offreedom for camera positioning. In still another aspect, the camera 20may be non-rotatable and non-translatable and the radiograph viewingdevice may itself be rotatable and/or translatable to place a specifiedradiographic viewing area within the cameras field of view.

Optionally, both the camera and the viewing area may be movable and mayadvantageously be arranged to move synchronously in opposite directionsor angles to speed convergence of the camera on a viewed area ofinterest. For example, if the area of interest MRI film no. 5 and thecamera is positioned at MRI film no. 1, the camera might otherwise needto rotate through an arc of about 172 cm (68 inches) or about 44°movement at a focal length of about 8 feet. If the viewing area isitself configured to move relative to the camera, the viewing area couldbe adapted to move in an opposite direction to the camera by a firstdistance and the camera would be adapted to move through an arccorresponding to a second distance, wherein the movement of the cameraand the viewing area could be apportioned to minimize the time requiredto place the area of interest within the camera's field of view.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates one example of a computer andcommunications system which may be advantageously used in accord withthe present concepts. Camera 20 is shown disposed in telesuite 20 and isconnected to a hub 100 which serves as the central point of a networkand controls the flow of data. A local computer 110 may advantageouslybe attached thereto. A conventional router 120 is provided to link thelocal network comprising the camera 20 and hub 102 to another network(e.g., WAN, LAN) or remote computer 160 through an ISP 130 network. Inan alternate configuration, a plurality of cameras 20 could be providedwithin one telesuite 20 or within multiple telesuites 10 and may linkedtogether as a separate LAN network using, for example, a LAN bridge, NTU(network terminal unit), or SDSL bridge or DSL bridge. Access to one ormore cameras 20 may also be provided by means of a global static IPaddress, in which a private IP address may be assigned to a networkdevice in the local network, using a leased line, cable modem and DSL,for example, such that any network device can be accessed from theinternet. Other conventional network connections enabling control ofcamera 20 from a remote computer 160 are also included within the scopeof the present concepts.

At least one of camera 20 and computer 110 comprise a processor and/orfirmware adapted to execute sequences of software instructions containedin a memory thereof. Software instructions may be provided in any numberof forms such as source code, assembly code, object code, machinelanguage, compressed or encrypted versions of the foregoing, and any andall equivalents thereof. In alternative embodiments, hard-wiredcircuitry or firmware may be used in place of or in combination withsoftware instructions and it is to be understood that no specificcombination of hardware circuitry, firmware and software are required.

Router 120 includes a communication interface to provide a two-way datacommunication coupling the network including hub 100 and camera 20 toanother network link. The communication interface may be an integratedservices digital network (ISDN) card or a modem (e.g., cable/DSL modem)to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type ofcommunications line or wireless link (e.g., a wireless bridge). In anysuch implementation, the router 120 sends and receives electrical,electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streamsrepresenting various types of information to and from another network,such as equipment operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 130.ISP 130 in turn provides data communication services through theworldwide packet data communication network, now commonly referred to asthe “Internet” 140. The signals through the various networks notedabove, which carry the digital data to and from computer system 160 andone or both of camera 20 and computer 110, are exemplary forms ofcarrier waves transporting the information. Remote computer 160 may belocated within the same building as camera 20 and/or computer 110 or maybe located remotely.

The system of FIG. 2 can send and receive messages, signals, and data,including control or instruction signals and program code, through thenetwork(s) connected to router 120. For example, remote computer 160 orserver 150 might transmit a requested code for an application programthrough Internet 140, ISP 130, and router 120 to computer 110. Thereceived code may be executed by a processor (e.g., associated with thecamera 20 and/or computer 100) as it is received. In this manner, camera20 and/or computer 110 may obtain application code or instructions inthe form of a carrier wave.

Computer 110 may advantageously be connected to one or more localspeakers and microphones (not shown), which may be disposed in the localhealth care provider's office telesuite 10, as shown in FIG. 1, or in anexamination room telesuite (not shown), to provide 2-way audiocapabilities. Additionally, if a conventional camera is operativelyassociated with or electrically connected to the remote 160 computer,the video signal of the remotely located doctor or health care providermay be transmitted or routed, such as through router 120, hub 100,and/or computer 110, to the computer monitor 80 located in the localhealth care provider's office telesuite 10, as shown in FIG. 1, or intoa computer monitor located in an examination room telesuite to permit2-way video communication.

In FIG. 1, the radiograph viewing device area 50 is a designated one ofthe predetermined viewing areas. In accord with the depicted telesuite10, a camera 20 rotatable about at least one axis is provided. Camera 20is rotatably mounted to or integrated with a base, which may itself bemovable through conventional means such as, but not limited to, tracks,actuators, wheels, and movable members. If the base of the camera 20 isnot fixedly mounted to a surface, such as a wall or a ceiling, it ispreferred that the base include a conventional locking device or devicesby which the base may be fixedly, if not repeatably, positioned relativeto the radiograph viewing device area 50.

A radiograph viewing device 200 in accord with the present concepts mayinclude, in one aspect, a light source(s) (not shown) disposed within abase 205, and one or more translucent substrates 210, the one or moretranslucent substrates 210 defining a plurality of radiograph viewingareas 220. The translucent substrate 210 may comprise any surface thatis able to transmit light and may be transparent, translucent,semi-opaque, or even substantially opaque. Translucent, as used herein,includes any degree of transmittance between zero (opaque) and up to andincluding 100% (transparent). In one aspect, the material may comprise alow density, medium density, high density, or ultra-high molecularweight (UHMW) Polyethylene, a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), apolycarbonate, a resinous material, glass, or another other materialhaving a desired transmittance over wavelengths of interest. The desiredtransmittance or optical density characteristics of the translucentsubstrate 210 may be an inherent property of the substrate material ormay be imparted thereto by conventional means including, but not limitedto, application of one or more surfaces, coatings, layers, or treatmentsto the substrate.

In various aspects, the translucent substrate 210 may be planar,substantially planar, or curved. In accord with at least some aspects,the radiograph viewing device 200 translucent substrate(s) 210 define aplurality of radiograph viewing areas 220. In one preferred aspect, thetranslucent substrate(s) 210 are planar and are arranged relative to oneanother so that an overall degree of curvature of the radiographicviewing device 200 between the outermost opposing translucent substratemay be slight or even substantially imperceptible, but generally followsor conforms to an arc of substantially constant radius. Thus, in onepreferred aspect, the translucent substrate(s) 210 are disposed toapproximate the shape of, for example, a spherical segment, a sphericalcurve, or a spherical cap. The spherical cap includes the portion of asphere which lies above (or below) a given plane and the sphericalsegment is a surface or solid defined by cutting a sphere with a pair ofparallel planes (e.g., a truncated spherical cap). The term sphericalcurve includes any portion of a spherical surface. The exactnomenclature of the surface is not intended to be limiting in anyrespect, but rather is illustrative in nature.

The shape of the radiograph viewing device 200 and translucent substrate210 may be any desired regular (e.g., symmetric), curved, or irregular(e.g., asymmetric) geometric construct defining one or more levels. Inat least some aspects, the radiograph viewing device 200 translucentsubstrate 210 may comprise a substantially rectangular or squareconfiguration approximating or conforming to a substantially constantradius R arc, such as shown in FIG. 5( a) (e.g., an impression of asphere on a solid). In various alternative aspects, the translucentsubstrate(s) 210 may be arranged to form a toroidal surface ofrevolution, a spherical curve, or a spherical segment, whereinradiograph viewing areas 220 defined by the translucent substrate(s) aredisposed substantially equidistant from the camera 250. The radiographviewing areas 220 may be divided into a plurality of groups, theradiograph viewing areas in each of the groups being disposedsubstantially equidistant from the camera, with each of the variousgroups being disposed at different distances from camera 250.

The radiograph viewing device 200 depicted in FIGS. 3-4 is, in accordwith at least some of the present concepts, disposed within a telesuite10, as noted above. Alternatively, the radiograph viewing device 200, inaccord with at least some of the present concepts, may be portablyconfigured to facilitate deployment and use in various remote locations(e.g., disaster sites). In the illustrated examples, the radiographviewing device area 50 containing the radiographic viewing device 200 islocated opposite a camera 250 rotatably mounted to surface which maycomprise, for example, the ceiling or wall of the telesuite. Camera 250is preferably rotatably mounted directly above a center of theradiographic viewing device 200 (e.g., on the ceiling) via a suitablecamera base or mount. The camera base or mount may be rotatable and/ortranslatable about a vertical axis. In essence, the camera may beprovided with plural degrees of freedom and the camera generallyconfigured to rotate and/or translate within any desired reference frameand no limitations are placed herein on the configuration of the cameraor camera/base combination. Any conventional actuator(s) or mechanism(s)may be used to position the camera 250 in a desired position andorientation relative to the radiograph viewing device 200.

As shown in the example of FIG. 3, the outermost and uppermosttranslucent substrates 210 a present each of the radiograph viewingareas 220 a, 220 b to the camera 250 at a substantially equal distanceR. In one example, for an 8′ ceiling, an upper surface of thetranslucent substrates 210 a and corresponding radiograph viewing areas220 a are disposed on the base 205 approximately 5′ (e.g. about 152 cm)from the camera 250. These dimensions represent only one embodiment andmay be freely varied. In many applications, the outer or upper surfaceof the translucent substrate 210 will be disposed between about threefeet and ten feet from the camera 250, although these distances are notlimits and may in fact be higher or lower in accord with therequirements of the application and specifications of the camera and/orassociated lens, software, and/or firmware.

Disposition of the upper surface of the translucent substrate 210 andradiograph viewing areas 220 a, 220 b at a substantially constantdistance from the camera 250 is preferred, to minimize delays associatedwith refocusing the camera at different focal lengths, but is notrequired in accord with the present concepts. For example, in thearrangement of FIGS. 3-4, the radiograph viewing areas are arranged inan n×n array (e.g., a 4×4 array) with an upper surface of thetranslucent substrate(s) 210 being disposed at a substantially constantradius from the camera 250. In one variant in accord with the presentconcepts, a first grouping of radiograph viewing areas (e.g., 220 a) onan outer portion of the radiograph viewing device 200 could be disposedat a first distance R₁ from the camera 250 and a second grouping ofradiograph viewing areas (e.g., 220 b) on an inner portion of theradiograph viewing device 200 could be disposed at a second distance R₂from the camera, wherein the first and second distances are different.Accordingly, a plurality of groupings of radiograph viewing areas 220a-n may be provided with each of the groups being disposed at differentdefined distances from the camera 250. In view thereof, the uppersurface of the translucent substrate 210 could comprise at least aportion defined by a locus consisting of a straight-line, a polynomialcurve, or one or more contiguous or disparate lines or curve segments,wherein not all radiographic viewing areas 220 a-n are disposed at anequal distance from the camera 250.

In at least some embodiments, the radiograph viewing area(s) 220 may bearranged in any n×n array or n×m array, wherein n and m may be anyinteger. The shape and the dimensions of the translucent substrate(s)210 as well as the shape and size of the radiographs employed therewithwill largely determine the size of the array. Moreover, each translucentsubstrate 210 may define one or more radiograph viewing area(s) 220 andmay be configured, for example, to bear various combinations ofradiograph sizes. For example, the outer radiographic viewing area 220 ain FIG. 4 could be seen as a 1×n array (i.e., 1×12) and the innerradiographic viewing area 220 b could be seen as a separate n×n array(i.e., 2×2). In other aspects, the inner radiographic viewing area 220 acould comprise an n×n or n×m array. The radiographic viewing areas neednot be symmetric or equally or even continuously apportioned and theterm array, as used herein, could comprise any combination(s) of orarrangement of radiographic viewing areas, such as combinations orarrangements of 1×1, 1×n, 1×m, n×n, and n×m arrays.

In one aspect of the present concepts, such as shown in FIG. 5( a)-(d),the radiograph viewing device 200 comprises a single translucentsubstrate 210 defining a plurality of radiographic viewing areas 220. Inanother aspect of the present concepts, the radiograph viewing device200 may comprises a plurality of translucent substrates 210substantially contiguously disposed to fully occupy or minimize spacesbetween adjacent translucent substrates so as to define, approximate, orconform to a spherical cap, or other desired configuration, with aminimal device footprint. In still other aspects of the presentconcepts, such as shown in FIGS. 3-4, the radiograph viewing device 200and translucent substrate(s) 210 may be disposed so as to define spaces260 therebetween between adjacent ones of the translucent substrate(s).These spaces 260 may be provided any number of sides of each of thetranslucent substrate(s) 210 (e.g., 1, 2, . . . n). The spaces 260permit, in at least some aspects, independent positioning of each of thetranslucent substrates 210 relative to the other translucent substratesor independent positioning of connected groupings of translucentsubstrates relative to other connected groupings.

The translucent substrate(s) 210 may be formed or configured, in atleast some aspects, to define an n×n or n×m array of substantiallyequally sized radiograph viewing areas 220. In one advantageous aspect,such array could comprise radiograph viewing areas 220 that are squaresof about 43 cm×43 cm. This size will allow standard magnetic resonanceimaging (MRI) films to be viewed effectively with a backlightillumination. Other aspects of the radiographic viewing device 200 couldutilize radiograph viewing areas of a different size or radiographviewing areas comprising a mixture of sizes and/or shapes or variablesizes and/or shapes. Radiograph viewing areas 220 may advantageouslycomprise mechanical clips, movable partitions, pins, suction device(s)(e.g., a plurality of small openings connected to a vacuum device,manifold, or chamber), and/or high-friction, non-abrasive surfaces toretain radiographs disposed thereon.

The light source (not shown) disposed within housing or base 205 maycomprise a conventional incandescent source(s), white LEDsource(s)/emitter(s) (e.g., a white LED panel or array, or ultraviolet(UV) light source(s). For the latter of these embodiments, an opticalwhite UV sensitive paint, preferably with a high pigment concentration,may be disposed on a translucent substrate 210. One example of asuitable UV sensitive paint includes the optical white paint (PNT-191)manufactured by Wildfire Lighting & Visual Effects of Los Angeles,Calif. A protective clear coat layer may optionally be provided over theUV sensitive paint. Such protective clear coat layer would necessarilypass UV of a predetermined spectrum (e.g., UV-A) to permit interactionof such UV light with the UV sensitive paint. The optical white UVsensitive paint may be disposed between two plates, sheets, or panelscollectively defining a translucent substrate 210.

In accord with some embodiments, a radiograph viewing device 200 mayinclude a light source comprising any essentially benign radiationemitter (e.g., visible light or non-visible radiation) and, fornon-visible radiation, at least one of the radiograph viewing device 200and the translucent substrate 210 comprises a material that isluminescent or fluorescent or exhibits luminescence or fluorescence in avisible wavelength to output a white light (e.g., a mixture of thecolors of the visible spectra), a subset of wavelengths (e.g., betweenabout 400-420 in the violet spectra), or even a single wavelength, aloneor in combination with one or more filtering elements, devices orcoatings. Thus, in a general sense, a radiographic viewing device 200 inaccord with the present concepts may comprise a light box bearing a UVlight source and a translucent substrate 210 having a fluorescentmaterial applied thereto or embedded therein, wherein UV radiationincident upon the translucent substrate fluorescent material causes thefluorescent material to emit visible light which is then output throughthe translucent substrate to illuminate a radiograph viewing area.

Additionally, as an additional measure to preserve patient privacy, thecamera provided in any aspects of the presently disclosed concepts, suchas those embodied in any of the examples FIGS. 1-6( b) may be providedwith a movable shield to cover the camera lens and/or to insert betweenthe camera and a space occupied by a patient. Thus, an obstacle betweensuch patient and the camera or camera lens, at least generally proximalto the camera, can provide visual confirmation to the patient that theyare not within the camera's field of view. In one aspect, the camerashield may comprise a concave bowl of any geometric shape (e.g.,hemisphere, square or rectangular box, etc.) which partiallycircumscribes a space about the camera and which comprises an opening.In the case of a hemispherical camera shield, the opening could comprisea spherical curve such as, but not limited to, a 45° or 90° arc sectionremoved from each side of a camera lens center line. The shape and sizeof the opening may be freely varied so long as the minimum size of theopening provides a desired field of view for a particular application.

In one embodiment, the aforementioned camera shield is rotatably mountedto either a camera mount or to the ceiling or other structure to whichthe camera mount is attached to permit rotation of the camera shieldrelative to, or even with, the camera. For example, a base of the camerashield could be attached within or to a conventional rotary bearing orjoint. The camera shield could be passive, wherein rotation of thecamera causes a corresponding rotation of the camera shield, such as bysome physical connection or impediment that permits the camera motion tobe transferred simultaneously to the camera shield. The camera shieldcould also be active, comprising a separate driving device (e.g., anactuator or motor) and a controller (e.g., IR receiver, signalprocessor, and/or processor, etc.) selectively controllable by a user(e.g., using an IR transmitter or using a networked or a directconnection to the driving device). In accord with this configuration,the camera shield may be rotated to visibly occlude the camera's view ofthe patient and the patient's space. In another aspect, an externalmovable shutter, such as an IR controlled shutter drawing power from abattery or from the camera's power source, may be provided to the sameeffect.

FIGS. 5( a)-5(d) respectively show an isometric view, a front view, aside view, and a top or plan view of another example of a radiographviewing device 500 in accord with aspects of the present concepts. Theradiograph viewing device 500 depicted in FIGS. 5( a)-(d) includes alight source 505 (e.g., one or more white LED or incandescent sources).As shown in FIGS. 5( b)-(c), the light source 505 may advantageouslycomprise an incandescent light disposed within a cabinet 506 which bearsthe translucent substrate 510. If cabinet 506 is substantially closed,at least one vent 507, channel, fan, and/or heat sink, or combinationthereof, may be provided to permit dissipation of the heat generatedwithin the cabinet by the light source 505. One or more slits oropenings (not shown) may also be provided to promote air flow andfacilitate convective heat dissipation.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5( a)-(d), the translucent substrate510 comprises a curved shape, but may be formed in other shapesincluding, but not limited to, a plurality of planar or substantiallyplanar shapes approximating one or more curved surfaces or shapes. Asshown in FIGS. 5( a)-(d), the radiograph viewing device 500 radiographviewing areas 520 are disposed about the outer or upper surface 511 ofthe translucent substrate 510 at a substantially equal distance R fromthe camera 550. As in the previous example, one suitable range ofdistances R may be between about three feet to ten feet and, morepreferably between approximately five feet to six feet (e.g., 5′9″), butthe distance R may be freely adjusted to any point within or outside ofthese ranges. In the aspect of the radiograph viewing device 500depicted in FIGS. 5( a)-5(d), the translucent substrate 510 comprises a4×4 array of radiograph viewing areas 520, which may advantageouslycomprise a 1′2″ by 1′5″ rectangle.

FIGS. 6( a)-6(b) respectively show an isometric view and a top view ofan example of a portable radiograph viewing device in accord withaspects of the present concepts. The radiograph viewing device 600depicted in FIGS. 6( a)-(b), as with previous embodiments, includes alight source 605 (e.g., an incandescent or LED source) disposed withinor on a stand 606 configured to bear a translucent substrate 610defining a plurality of radiograph viewing areas 620.

As shown in the top view of FIG. 6( b), the outer periphery of thetranslucent substrate 610 is curved (i.e., substantially circular asshown) and an upper surface 611 thereof defines a plurality ofradiograph viewing areas 620 at a substantially equal distance R fromthe camera 650. Camera 650 is a high resolution camera (e.g., an 18× ora 27× optical zoom camera) rotatable along at least one axis, and ispreferably rotatable along a plurality of axes. The distance R may bepracticably set to a distance of up to about five to six feet, althougha lesser distance or greater distance may also be used. The translucentsubstrate 610 comprises, as shown in FIG. 6( b), a 4×4 array of squareradiograph viewing areas 620. The number and size of both or either ofthe translucent substrate and radiograph viewing areas may be freelyvaried.

In the aspect of the present concepts depicted in FIGS. 6( a)-(b), theportable or deployable radiographic viewing device 600 is advantageouslyconfigured and packaged together with the illustrated components, or thelike, inclusive of a camera 650, camera controller, processor (e.g., aprocessing device having at least one processor, such as a laptopcomputer or handheld computer), monitor, communication device (e.g.,modem in combination with hardwired I/O port or wireless port, satellitecommunication device, radio-frequency communication device, carrier wavetransmitting/receiving device, etc.), and/or other components in a unitor kit to permit rapid assembly for mobile or remote uses or forshipment to and turn-key use by an end-user facility. Some or all of thecomponents could be pre-assembled to permit rapid deployment. In oneaspect, a pre-assembled remote medical center in accord with the presentconcepts and including the disclosed radiographic viewing device 600 canbe rapidly deployed to a theatre of military operation or any other areaof urgent need (e.g., disaster relief center).

As shown in FIGS. 6( a)-(b), camera 650 is rotatably mounted to an arm635 is disposed over the general vicinity of the center of thetranslucent substrate 610 and, still more preferably, over the immediatevicinity of the center of the translucent substrate and, even morepreferably, over the center point of the translucent substrate. Anoptional fixed camera 651 may be positioned, for example, to provide aview of an operator of the radiographic viewing device 600 so as topermit two-way, face-to-face remote communication.

As with the previous embodiments, the camera 650 may generally bepositioned anywhere with respect to the translucent substrate 610 thatwould permit positioning of the camera to view at least one, a pluralityof, and/or all of the radiograph viewing areas 620, but is optimallydisposed over the center point of the translucent substrate so as topermit viewing of all of the radiograph viewing areas 620 from a similarvantage point. Arm 635 may comprise a single, arcuate member as shown,or may comprise a plurality of arcuate or straight members. Suchadditional members may provide enhanced rigidity and stability to thecamera 620 so as to prevent vibration or oscillation of the camera. Forexample, in various alternative configurations, the arm 635 may traversea 180° arc to connect to the opposing side of the translucent substrate610 or may comprise a plurality of straight or arcuate members connectedat one or more points to form a tripod or other rigid structure to whichthe camera 650 may be securely mounted or suspended.

To facilitate assembly, disassembly, and packaging of the radiographicviewing device 600, translucent substrate 610 may be formed in aplurality of separate pieces (e.g., arc segments). For example, in FIGS.6( a)-(b), the translucent substrate 610 could be divided a plurality ofequally sized pieces (e.g., 4-90° arc pieces or 8-45° arc pieces) orinto a plurality of dissimilar pieces. These separate pieces can beconnected together using conventional mechanical fasteners such as, butnot limited to, latches or male/female connectors, flanges forscrews/nuts, and/or slot and key connectors disposed on the sides of oron an underside of the translucent substrate 610 outside of the viewingarea of the assembled translucent substrate (e.g., between adjacentradiograph viewing areas 620). In another aspect, the translucentsubstrate 610 could comprise a substantially rigid material and thepieces thereof could be rotatably disposed about a common axis to permitsuch pieces to rotate and slightly translate relative to one another topermit the pieces to fold or nest upon one another in the manner of afolding fan or a folding parabolic mirror or antenna. In yet anotheraspect, to facilitate folding of the translucent substrate 610, thesubstrate could comprise a substantially flexible, yet durabletranslucent material (e.g., a plastic or polymer) having a plurality ofribs adapted to unfold in an arc in the manner of an automobileconvertible top. The particular nature of the substrate's 610 foldingcan encompass any conventional method and device of folding, nesting, ordisassembly to facilitate mobility of the radiographic viewing device600.

Arm 635 may also be equipped with mounting brackets for an optionalfixed camera 651 and the processor or laptop computer. In onealternative embodiment, the necessary software and instructions to drivethe camera may reside within a solid-state or non-volatile memoryassociated with the structure of the radiographic viewing device 600 andappropriate electrical connections are provided so that a remote usercan simply hook-up their own laptop computer and access and utilize suchresident memory as an external source. Stated differently, thefunctionality of the processing device(s), camera controller(s), andcommunications device(s) may be centralized or distributed and may bemodularized for selective inclusion in or exclusion from a correspondingradiographic viewing device 600 unit or kit, based upon the needs of theend user. In like fashion, the radiographic viewing device 600 may beconfigured to facilitate modular connection of any one of a variety ofcommunications device(s) to suit a particular end use and/or to bereconfigurable to permit use in a variety of end uses. For example, oneapplication might require only communication through a conventionalmodem or a LAN system (e.g., a 10 bT connection), whereas anotherapplication might necessitate a conventional satellite, radio-based, orother carrier-wave based communication device.

Each of the above-described embodiments and obvious variations thereofis contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of thedisclosure, set forth in the following claims. Additional variationsconsidered to fall within the present concepts include a radiographicviewing device comprising a fixed camera and a movable translucentsubstrate defining a plurality of separate radiographic viewing areaswhich are selectively movable into the field of view of the camera(e.g., by rotation and/or translation). This set-up would facilitaterapid removal of the viewed radiographs and rapid insertion of theradiographs yet to be viewed without disturbing the set up of the cameraor inadvertently moving objects (i.e., hands, fingers, clothing) intothe field of view of a radiograph that is being viewed. Thus, thisconfiguration could serve to minimize any potential unintendeddistractions to the viewing physician. Such radiographic viewing devicecould also output a signal (e.g., a tonal signal or message) to a doctorto let the viewing physician know that a selected radiograph has beencued up and is in-position for immediate viewing. This would permitphysicians to effectively multi-task during any delay between therequest for viewing of a particular radiograph and the actualpositioning of the radiograph on the radiograph viewing device withoutthe need for the physician to continually glance at a screen to see ifthe requested radiograph is presented.

In yet another variation, the radiographic viewing device comprising aplurality of separate radiographic viewing areas could itself be staticand the camera 250 configured to translate within or along a track tobring the camera to bear on a selected radiographic viewing area.

In still another variation of the present concepts, a physician in aremote location may use the camera (e.g. 20) to view details of aradiograph mounted on a radiograph viewing device (e.g. 200) in aradiograph viewing device area (e.g. 50) using a projector adapted toproject image data received from the camera 20 or other downstreamcomponent (e.g., hub 100, local computer 110, router 120, network,remote computer 160, ISP 130, etc.).

A physician in a remote location may further be permitted in accord withthe present concepts to use a handheld electronic device (e.g. cellularphone, PDA, etc.) to access a camera (e.g. 20) to view a radiographmounted on a radiograph viewing device (e.g. 200)

Moreover, in any of the above disclosed aspects, a radiograph need notnecessarily be physically disposed on a radiograph viewing device 200 atthe time at which the remote physician, or other individual, accessesthe image. The radiograph viewing device 200 may be used to digitize aradiograph in high-definition (or even one of a plurality of selectabledefinitions corresponding to the highest fidelity of a device configuredfor viewing at a receiving end) for storage on a computer readablemedium (e.g. hard-drive, optical disc, magnetic tape, optical storagedevice, magnetic storage device, memory chip, or any other type ofnon-volatile media). The remote physician may then access the file(s)corresponding to a desired radiograph or radiographs and view theassociated radiograph(s) or portions thereof. For example, a first fileof the radiograph may be stored in a low resolution and could behighlighted with or supplemented by a index or key permitting the remotephysician to specify a region or regions of interest in the radiograph.High resolution images could then be transmitted to the remotephysician's viewing device (e.g., computer screen, projector, handhelddevice, etc.). By utilizing a multi-resolution tiering system, removephysicians may be permitted to more rapidly assess a number ofradiographs by more particularly specifying exactly which portions of aradiograph or radiographs of interest are required for detailed viewing.This would advantageously reduce data transmission times by permittingselective excision of non-essential portions of the high-resolutionimage data.

Each of the above-described embodiments and obvious variations thereofis contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of thedisclosure, set forth in the following claims.

1. A telesuite comprising: a camera rotatable about at least one axis,said camera being rotatably mounted to a base; and a radiograph viewingdevice comprising a computer monitor.